Before, I was an independent contractor for music videos and documentaries. I got to work with artists who were really good at what they do. It was a lot of fun, but at the end of the day it was just entertainment; it didn’t change anyone’s life. At the end of the day with Compassion, you’re making a difference in kids’ lives.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned through your job?

I knew about Compassion before, but I had no idea the difference they make in so many kids’ lives around the world. What I’ve learned most is it’s not just some organization, it’s changing kids’ lives drastically around the globe.

What are some of the most memorable interviews you’ve done?

There’s a kid named Junior in Ecuador. He’s about 16 or 17 now, and Compassion has been helping him since he was 4 or 5.

He lives in a rough neighborhood. We went to get b-roll of his neighborhood at 10 at night. There were people doing drugs, playing cards, and as we were filming, a swat team drove by us in full riot gear.

That moment I realized what a difference we make in Junior’s life because he’s not like the other kids in his community. He has vision and hope and dreams for his future and that drives who he is.

Lia in Indonesia was another one who impacted me. She has learned about business and has challenged her mom who has a small food cart business. Now they have two carts where they’re selling food instead of just one. It’s another story of something small that makes a huge difference.

What experience has impacted you the most?

In Africa, we’ll see kids at a Child Development Center who look healthy, and then we go to their neighborhoods and see the other kids.

Kids enrolled in our program just look completely different; they look healthy. But then you hear their stories of how they live with their grandma because their parents died from AIDS. Africa is hard to come back from. We go back and forth between two different worlds, and the people here have no idea what you’ve seen.

How do you process that?

Talking through it with my wife when I get back is really helpful. Chuck and I talk it over on the plane before we get home. Chuck has helped because he’s been taking pictures for the ministry for so long, and he’s been through the same steps I’m going through. It’s a tough road we walk.

What’s the best piece of advice Chuck has given you?
Always bring toilet paper. He calls it mountain money.

Many people might think you have the ultimate dream job. What do you say to that?

Try traveling 100 to 150 days a year, being on and off airplanes. Your time zones are all messed up, and it takes three to four days to get adjusted.

It’s an amazing job, but it comes with responsibility and a lot of hardships you don’t plan for. It challenges your faith and makes you ask God tough questions. But it also strengthens your faith.

How has working here changed your life?

It has helped me learn how to pack in 30 minutes. It also changed my worldview and outlook on what I need every day to survive versus what I think I need.

What one thing do you want to say to the sponsors?

Write your child! Seriously. It’s gonna make me tear up because we see so many kids who just want to get a letter from their sponsor and they just don’t.

Yes – that last answer is a sad truth for so many kids. Hopefully, the importance of letter writing is a message that is spreading through so many bloggers and advocates who are passionate about letter writing.

Our Lina from Colombia just wrote in her last letter that her peers at the center wish they had a sponsor like us that would write to them more often. We have started making extra paper crafts to send to our kids and have been encouraging them to share them with their friends. Would love for more sponsors to be writing to their kids more regularly.

Thanks for this post and thanks for all you do Jeff! One of the things I love about Compassion is all the wonderful photography and videos that are available. They just give such an amazing glimpse into our sponsored children’s lives!

After reading your last question-I will go write to my kids right now!